Correlations between breeder age, egg cholesterol content, blood cholesterol level and hatchability of broiler breeders

Abstract

1. The research was carried out to investigate correlations between breeder age, egg cholesterol content, blood cholesterol level and hatchability of broiler breeders.

2. Egg cholesterol content increased with increased breeder age. The mean yolk cholesterol contents (mg per g yolk) were 10.47 +/- 0.28, 15.34 +/- 0.65 and 15.64 +/- 0.71 mg/g at 28, 45 and 65 weeks of age, respectively.

3. There were positive correlations between yolk weight and yolk cholesterol content (mg/ g yolk) (r = 01.941; P < 0.01) and egg cholesterol content (mg/egg) (r = 0.980; P < 0.01).

4. Negative correlations were found between egg yolk cholesterol content and hatchability of fertile eggs (r = -0.345; P < 0.05), fertility ratio (r = -0.609; P < 0.01) and hatchability of total eggs (r = -0.574; P < 0.01).

5. The mean blood cholesterol levels were 165.1 +/- 11.04, 166.5 +/- 11.97 and 179.5 +/- 11.33 mg/dl at 28, 45 and 65 weeks of age, respectively.